Monk Smart Ice Bath Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, there will be small bubbles appearing from one of the vents in the base of your tub. This is circulating air throughout the bath. The second vent will not have air pushing through it, this is normal for the water to be fully circulated throughout the system. 

The internal lights can be turned off using the light button on your tubs display panel. There is currently no way to turn off the external lights of the bath without turning off the entire tub.

Absolutely, Monk has been designed to look great in both your home and garden. Your Monk ice bath purchase includes an outdoor cover to keep your Monk protected from the elements. This should be in use whenever your Monk is outdoors.

Operating Temperatures

It’s operating temperatures are 0°C to 40°C / 33.8°F to 104°F. So it's suitable for use in winter and summer across most locations.

Storage & Ambient Temperature

Lower cooling efficiency is expected if the ambient temp is over 40°C / 104°F, meaning your Monk will take longer to cool down. We recommend keeping your Monk indoors if you live in a humid or hot location.

When the ambient temperature drops below 0°C / 32°F, it's not suitable to use the chiller as the components will become hard. We suggest placing your Monk inside/indoors if your property is exposed to 0°C / 32°F or lower.

If you're unsure about the weather in your particular city or town, please get in touch.

Yes, it can although we recommend Monk is stored in an environment below 25°C for optimal performance.

Monk’s operating temperatures are 0°C to 40°C. However, in a room over 25°C, Monk will cool less efficiently depending on the temperature of the air Monk intakes into the cooling unit, and the humidity of the environment. These factors will impact Monk’s ability to reach cooler temperatures. In these cases, we recommend seeking a cool air feed.

Yes, we recommend leaving Monk switched on to ensure you have clean water and your desired temperature ready for plunging. When Monk is turned on, the water is continuously being circulated and cleaned with ozone sanitisation – stagnant water is not sanitary.

No! Monk doesn’t need to be plumbed in – it’s plug and plunge. You can easy fill and drain Monk via a hose.

Nope – you don't need to lift a finger! Simply set the temperature you want on the control panel (or set a schedule via the Monk app), and Monk will be at the temperature you want, when you want it.

Monk goes down to 3°C / 37.4°F. There are no additional health benefits or scientific evidence to support going lower, and we're champions of teaching people how to use cold water safely and effectively.

Monk has a dual stage filtration system, with the water continuously circulating through a sediment filter and being infused with ozone. The filter’s job is to keep the water clear of physical particles and debris, and the ozone sanitisation’s job is to keep the water free from bacteria and pathogens.

Monk uses ozone sanitisation, the gold standard for cleaning cold water. Ozone (O3) is a molecule composed of three oxygen atoms, compared to the two oxygen atoms in the oxygen (O2) we breathe. This extra oxygen atom makes ozone a powerful oxidizer, capable of breaking down and eliminating bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants. When ozone is introduced into the water, it quickly reacts with and destroys impurities, then reverts back to oxygen (O2), leaving the water clean, safe, and naturally purified without any harmful residues. Not only is it more effective than traditional chemical treatments, but it’s a natural, eco-friendly solution that ensures our cold water remains crystal clear, safe, and refreshing for every use.

For guidance on keeping your water clean, please follow our care instructions.

Once your Monk has arrived, we advise waiting at least 12 hours before commencing the setup guide. Like a fridge, the cooler in your Monk needs time to settle after being in transit.

It depends on the ambient temperature, but on average 4°C per hour. Assuming a steady cooling rate of 4°C per hour, it would take:

3.25 hours to reach 3°C
3 hours to reach 4°C
3 hours to reach 8°C
1 hour to reach 12°C
A few minutes to reach 16°C (assuming the ambient temperature is similar)
You can schedule your ideal temperature in advance with the Monk app.

Your pump filter will always be on/running whilst Monk is connected to a power source. In our lab tests, the power draw was between a minimum of 78W & maximum of 291W, which is comparable to an LED light bulb or fridge freezer.

Monk operates at around 55dBa - comparable to a typical air conditioning unit. Depending on its cooling and the ambient temperature, Monk may run at a slight hum / white noise.

We recommend changing the filter every 4 weeks, depending on usage or when the filter is visibly discoloured.

Your Monk comes with a 20 micron filter, and you can order them here.

Monk ice baths are designed with safety in mind. While the water itself isn’t directly grounded (which is normal for hot tubs and ice baths), the rest of the bath including all structural components, mains supply and metal parts are all properly grounded and approved by compliance.

There are a few things to note if you notice some water pooling around your Monk's filter and the chiller unit:

1. We advise you ensure the filter lid is tightly secure. There is a potential that the lid hasn't been secured properly when changing your filter.
2. You can be reassured that Monk's powers sockets and cables are IP67 rated, meaning it's protected against water ingress, even if submerged. The product has been designed with safety as a top priority, with separation between high and low voltage components, and in-built safety systems that would trip immediately if there was ever any risk. This adheres to the same safety compliance for products like hot tubs. So while we can appreciate how alarming a leak can feel, rest assured that it does not pose an electrical risk.

Monk features a powerful 0.6 HP / horse power cooling unit. Thanks to Monk’s ergonomic design, it requires just 160–220 litres of water (significantly less than the 300-litre average of most ice baths). This lower water volume, combined with Monk’s excellent insulation, ensures the bath retains its coolness for longer, reducing the need for constant cooling power and enhancing overall efficiency.

Monk was designed to be beautifully compact and fit through doorways.

External dimensions:
160cm length, 70cm width, 85cm height.

Internal dimensions:
Angle of backrest: 15 degrees
Seat height from internal floor: 120mm
Seat length: 370mm
Distance from back of seat to front of bath: 849mm
Distance from internal floor to Monk lid: 680mm - 800mm

There's a lot. You ready? Okay, here we go:

• Measurements: L160cm x W70cm x H85cm
• Power supply: conventional 230V + 50HZ (UK+EU) / 120V + 60HZ (US) with a 2m power lead supplied
• Dry weight: 110kg
• Temperature range: 3°c-16°c / 37°F - 61°F, controllable on the control panel or via the Monk app
• Sanitisation: Ozone (constantly circulating 400mg/h)
• Average power consumption: 78W-291W (dependent on usage and external environment)
• Installation: no plumbing required, ‘plug and plunge’ set-up
• Easy water change: a reversible flow valve connects to the 6m hose supplied and pumps the water out
• Environment: suitable for indoor and outdoor use, with operating temperature between 0°C and 40°C.
• Outdoor cover: Monk cover supplied and should be used when stored outdoors for protection against the elements.
• Unique hybrid style ergonomic seating position that allows full submersion up to the neck
• Water volume: up to 160-220L
• Internal light: guides users how to breathe, six colours controllable via the app
• External light: one colour (warm white)
• Filter: 20 micron (5 micron or 20 micron can be used)
• Universal phone holder attachment at nose of ice bath
• Control panel controls temperature, timer, external light colour, and airplane mode functionality
• Airplane mode functionality: turns off all connectivity and EMFs
  Wood finish on the lid and seat, with premium leather handles
• Companion app allows remote control of Monk (change temperature, set schedules, change light settings), provides guided plunges with breathwork, soundscapes, and guided voiceovers, automatically pulls through plunge data (session length and water temperature), and integrates with health and fitness wearables
• Wireless connectivity to allow OTA (over the air) firmware updates
• Noise - Maximum 58.9 dBa
• Monk features a powerful 0.6 HP / horse power cooling unit.

Currently Monk is made out of a Polyethylene (PE), which is one of the most used materials in these kinds of products.

When you’re creating a product like this that lasts 3+ years, obviously you wouldn’t make it out of some compostable mushroom material. People hear plastic and think it’s bad, but plastic itself isn’t inherently bad, it’s what you do with it after it’s usage. PE has excellent chemical resistance, very high stiffness, and good processability with a long service life. Necessary thermal insulation, which is so important, because the if you use tin like some of the products are, you’ll loose cold and gain heat so quickly, which takes so much more electricity which is far more costly and to keep cold and more wasteful.

It’s easily recyclable, and so we’re looking at the whole 360 business, for example, do we pick up the bath after X years when someone’s done with it or wants to upgrade or replace it. We’re looking at using a blend of recycled PE – we’ll be doing a lifecycle analysis of a number of options. Materials are a part of an important wider business initiative.

The Monk seat is ergonomically designed for comfort without compromising on space. It fits 6'6 115kg athletes, despite looking slick and compact.

The seat inside Monk is 53cm in width x 32cm in length x elevated 12cm in height. The complete length of Monk when seated inside is 85cm creating space for your legs to stretch out in Monk.

Monk's are designed to operate between 0°C to 40°C / 33.8°F to 104°F. So it's suitable for use in winter and summer across most locations.

If your Monk system is located in an environment where temperatures are expected to drop below 0°C, it's essential to take steps to prevent potential damage caused by freezing water inside the unit. Here's what you need to know to protect your Monk system and what to do in the event of freezing conditions.

Key Steps to Follow:

1. Keep your Monk on at all times: 
   

• Monk must remain on when the ambient temperature drops below 0°C. This will ensure water is heated to a minimum of 3°C and water/air is constantly circulating through your bath, to avoid freezing in the pipes. 

OR 

1. Drain the System as Normal:
   
2. Understand the Risks:
   

Potential Issues in Extreme Cold:

In the rare case that your Monk system is undrained and exposed to sub-zero temperatures, here's what could happen:

• Pipe Splitting or Fittings Dislodged: Ice expansion may cause soft pipes to split or fittings to pop off. This is an inconvenience but easily repairable. Replacement soft pipes and fittings can be repositioned without much hassle.
• Hard Pipes Damage: The bigger concern is with the hard pipes (such as steel or copper) inside the chiller. These are more susceptible to damage from ice expansion. If any of these hard pipes are damaged, the chiller itself may need to be replaced, as these pipes cannot be easily repaired. This would require support from the Monk servicing and repairs team at cost to you. 

What to Do If You Suspect Damage:

• Inspect the System: After the temperature rises above freezing, visually inspect the Monk system for any obvious signs of pipe splitting or fittings that may have been pushed off their fixings.
• Soft Pipe Repairs: If soft pipes have split or fittings have been dislodged, these can typically be replaced or repositioned with minimal effort.
• Contact Support: If you suspect there is damage to the hard pipes inside the chiller (i.e., steel or copper components), reach out to the customer support team for further assistance, as these will require professional attention and may necessitate a chiller replacement.

If you're looking to order a new Monk, please check the product pages for specific delivery dates across the UK.

If you're waiting on your Monk delivery, the team ships on a first in, first out basis. Please confirm your specific delivery timeframe with the logistics team at sales@surroundliving.co.uk

You may notice a slight gap between the Monk bath and its lid, as it does not sit completely flush. This intentional design serves several important purposes:

• Temperature Regulation: As hot air rises, this gap allows warm air to escape, helping the tub reach cooler temperatures more efficiently.
• Air Circulation: Improved airflow reduces condensation and prevents the buildup of ozone, ensuring a more comfortable experience.

Monk has been designed to be compact, yet spacious enough to accommodate a wide range of body sizes. Athletes as large as 6'6" and 115kg (like Anthony Joshua) find Monk comfortable to use. We've included three different fill lines internally (fill to 170L, 200L or 230L) to accommodate for all sizes of human.

Monk features a unique hybrid design where users are in a semi-reclined posture that is neither fully upright nor completely horizontal. This space-efficient posture allows us to maximise comfort while fitting a variety of body types. Additionally, this position increases hydrostatic pressure, which can enhance circulation, reduce muscle swelling, and promote faster recovery.